Google doodle celebrates Louis Daguerre’s 224th birthday

Google has launched a new doodle, this time to celebrate the 224th birthday of photographic pioneer Louis Daguerre. The French artist and physician is widely recognised as the father of photography.

It was in the early to mid 19th century that Daguerre developed his Daguerretype images, including 1938’s Boulevard du Temple, which is believed to be the first ever example of humans having their images recorded.

By the time Daguerre died in 1851, photography was really starting to take off. Daguerre’s system was arguably becoming dated by this point, overtaken by work of England’s William Fox Talbot. In the early 21st century, however, photography has surely moved far beyond Daguerre’s expectations.